Voting begins in Tokyo assembly election

Balloting began Sunday morning in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, the first test of voter sentiment in the Japanese capital since Governor Yuriko Koike took office in August last year, according to Jiji Press.

The main focus is whether Koike’s regional party, Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites first group), and groups supportive of her will win a majority of at least 64 seats together in the 127-member metropolitan assembly.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party aims to maintain its status as the largest group in the assembly but is struggling with public criticism of his alleged favoritism over a school plan and a recent gaffe by Defense Minister Tomomi Inada.

Voting started at 7 a.m. (10 p.m. Saturday GMT) and will continue until 8 p.m., except for some areas. The winners are expected to be known late at night. The election results are likely to affect national politics as well.

There are 259 candidates who spread over 42 electoral districts. The number of candidates is the second largest since the current total number of seats was set in 1997. Women accounted for a record high of 65.